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The Classical Exploreris a place to discover classical music by lesser-known composers, and, occasionally, lesser-known works by composers who are well-known. Each listing will have CD information, a brief description of what you might expect of the music, and a link to where you can find it. All will contain accessible works that have given pleasure, and in most cases are off the beaten track. A recommended recording may be recent or it may have been around for years. We hope you will join us!

Recently in Wind Quintets

Michael Thompson Wind Quintet
Naxos 8.553076 73:20

Naxos has recorded several albums of Danzi's music for wind ensemble and it's also available on other labels. As you'd expect, there's a lot of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven in these unfailingly charming works.

Wind Quintet in C minor, Op. 91 #6
Wind Quintet in F Major, Op. 88 #6

Michael Thompson Wind Quintet
Naxos 8.554228 68:41

Variously known as Antonín, Antoine or Anton Rejcha or Reicha, this Bohemian composer is probably best known for his works for wind quintet. They are unfailingly tuneful and genial, and give each of the instruments its place in the spotlight. The above CD is but one of a number of Rejcha CDs on Naxos by this ensemble, and all are worthy of investigation. There are also quintets available on CPO.

Rejcha wrote in a number of genres including a number of symphonies that have been released on several Czech labels such as Panton, concertos, choral works and operas: you may need to work harder than usual to track these down, but the rewards are worth it.

Anthony Goldstone, piano
Elysian Wind Quintet
Chandos CHAN9077 53:08

Holst wrote in a number of genres, but is too often regarded as a one-hit wonder because of the popularity of The Planets. The two works on this CD are early pieces in which he is still finding his way, but they are interesting in rounding out our perception of a composer better known for his orchestral writing; already there are folksong elements appearing.

Jacob is better known as an arranger of other people's music. This sextet, written many years after the Holst works, sounds a little like Hindemith and the piano writing very much like Prokofiev. A whole CD of Jacob's chamber music on Dutton Epoch CDLX7177 is well worth investigating.